London: The Queen has retired from the Thanksgiving Service of St Paul’s Cathedral, a centerpiece of her platinum jubilee celebrations, after citing unrest after her brief appearance on the balcony of the palace on Thursday of Buckingham.
A spokesman for the palace said the 96-year-old monarch had decided “very reluctantly” that she could no longer travel from her home to Windsor Castle to attend service in central London.
Queen Elizabeth II watches from the balcony of Buckingham Palace during the Trooping the Color parade. Credit: Getty Images
Amid four days of national celebrations to honor her unprecedented 70 years on the throne, the Queen presented herself to hundreds of thousands of Britons along with her family after the Trooping of Color and the annual military parade.
A spokeswoman said: “The Queen really enjoyed the birthday parade and today’s Flypast, but she did experience some discomfort.
“Considering the trip and the activity necessary to participate in tomorrow’s National Thanksgiving Service at St. Paul’s Cathedral, His Majesty, with great reluctance, has concluded that he will not attend.
“The Queen is looking forward to attending tonight’s Beacon Lighting Event at Windsor Castle and would like to thank all those who have made such a memorable occasion today.”
Just a few weeks ago there were doubts that he could participate after canceling a number of traditional appearances, including the state opening of parliament, on what the palace described as “episodic mobility issues”.
At Trooping the Color, she was accompanied by her cousin, Prince Edward, who joined her in a role that her late husband, Prince Philip, who died at the age of 99, would normally play over the years. ‘last year.